Friends,

While reading our epic Ramayana, we see that Birds played an important role in the Ramayana period. It was Garuda who got Shri Ram freed from the cobweb.

Today I would like to share some beautiful stories about Garuda.

Garuda is a bird creature from Hindu mythology that has a mix of half-man, and half-eagle composite. He is the vehicle (vahana) of Vishnu and appears on the god’s banner.

Garuda represents birth and heaven and is the enemy of all snakes. In Indian art, Garuda gradually acquired more human form over the centuries and so maintained only his wings.

He has the vicious-looking beak of a bird of prey. Garuda is a national symbol of India, Indonesia, and Thailand.

There is a beautiful story about Garuda.

Mount Kailasha is the place where there is the abode of Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction. One evening Vishnu came to see Lord Shiva.  At the entrance gate, God Vishnu left behind his Garuda, which serves as his vehicle. He was looking at the half-man, half-eagle composite.

 Garuda was sitting alone at the entrance gate, and enjoying the natural beauty of the place. 

Suddenly his eyes fell on a beautiful creature, a little bird seated on the arch crowning the entrance to Shiva’s place.

On seeing the bird, Garuda wondered aloud– “How marvelous is this creation!  One who has created these lofty mountains has also made this beautiful tiny bird – and both seem equally wonderful.”

Yama, the god of death.

At the same time, he saw then Yama, the god of death who was riding over his vehicle the buffalo, passing by with the intention of meeting  Lord Shiva.

As he crossed the arch, his eyes went over to the bird and he raised his brows in a quizzical expression.

 Then he took his eyes off the bird and disappeared inside.

According to ancient thought,  even a slight glance of Yama is believed to be the harbinger of the death of that living being.

Garuda, who had observed Yama’s action, told himself, “– Yama looking intently at the bird can mean only one thing – the bird’s time is up now. Perhaps on his way back, Yama  will carry away the bird’s soul with him.” Garuda’s heart was filled with pity for the helpless creature.

That creature was oblivious of its own impending doom further agonized Garuda. The Garuda resolved to save the bird from the clutches of death.

He swooped on the bird up in his mighty talons and rushed to the forest thousands of miles away.

He left that bird on a rock beside a brook thinking of a safe place. Then he returned to Kailasha and regained his position at the entrance gate. Soon after, Yama emerged from inside and nodded to Garuda in recognition.

Garuda greeted the god of death, Yama, and said: “May I ask you a question?

Yes, you can satisfy your curiosity– replied the Yama.

While going inside, you saw a beautiful bird here and for a moment you became pensive, why?”

Yama smiled and then answered him —  “Well, when my eyes fell on the little bird, I saw that it was to die in a few minutes, swallowed by a python, far away from here in a forest near a brook.

I wondered how this tiny creature would traverse the thousands of miles separating it from its destiny in such a short time. Then I forgot. Surely it must have happened somehow.” Saying this, Yama smiled again and went away.

Did Yama know about Garuda’s specific role in the matter? Nobody can know for sure. Garuda sat perplexed and mulling over the surprising events that had taken place through him..

Friends, this is the fact about our life. no one can predict one’s death but one always living in an unknown fear.

Death is inevitable.

Each moment, death is happening in us at the organ and cellular levels.  This is how with just look at your insides, and feel that death is the basis of all fear.

 In fact, death is a tremendous relief. But, It is just that it should not happen untimely. We do not want to fall dead when we are still able to create, contribute and make things happen.

Yes, our time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy and let others happy.

Please click below the link for the previous blog..

BE HAPPY….BE ACTIVE….BE FOCUSED….BE ALIVE…

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Categories: infotainment